Heating Costs Aboard for you ?.

[Nesting Zombie]

Hey guys,
So,,, I’ve been using my Cheap (£85) Chinese Deisel heater aboard on & off since I fitted it around 9mth ago.
Love it, Has run faultless throughout the Testing AND now the normal daily Habitation use.
I think I’ve also found the ‘Sweet Spot’ for the Living area I have to maintain a comfortable temperature so I can leave the Thurmostat alone. I just switch it on, Run it for 5-10 Hrs or whatever is needed then turn it off. All done .

Now my unit is the kinda Stand alone unit, with it’s own Fuel tank & Pump in like a metal cabinet, it’s Remote Controlled so I can start & Stop it from the Cab, OR my Bed & has 1 outlet exactly where I want it. Now a NEGATIVE thing is that it hasn’t got a Fuel Gauge . So a Wooden Spatula got re-Purposed as a Dipstick. I’m just carful when I fry my Bacon
I run it on the 1.7htz setting & it consistently uses around 1lt of Desel for every 9 or 10 hours of Running time from the 4.5lt tank.

The 12v Power consumed is fair as even though it’s often on (Lately) for 10hrs or more at a time over night in these-14 & -15°C temperatures, I’ve never noticed drained Habitation battery, & I tend to move most days anyway so charged up to float every evening.
So say 1lt at £1,40 Devided by the 9/10hrs = around 14p/15p per hour.

Not Cheap, But Convenient for Instant Dry Heat.
Anyone else worked out their Heating Costs ?. Or am I the only one with Time on my hands

 

[runnach]

I cant add an answer to your Q, can you post a link to the unit you have, please.

 

[Nesting Zombie]

It was from Amazon, I will try &
find the model . Obviously it’s not the electric one that I use when on EHU
Got it

https://amzn.eu/d/9ptkLnT

 

[mistericeman]

I've never bothered to work ours out ....
It draws from the main tank (dip tube set so the heater can never empty the tank )

Just turn it on and let it run ....the one in the motorhome is a genuine eberspacher d2 so has a functioning thermostat ....

The 2 Chinese clones I have at home (both 5~8kw ) are an all in one type (not really suitable for use in enclosed habitation spaces
And a,component type Both have functioning thermostats to (stable temp control is important to me ....comfort wise and fuel consumption wise )

Folks bugger about with fuel/fan settings on some to maximise efficiency ...(on controller/motherboards that support it )

BUT to be honest I've just let them run .

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Yeah, have to be honest, although I DID replace the Green fuel pipe with the White Nylon type, Added some sound & Fire insulation. I didn’t alter any of the Advanced settings or Motherboard, I just ‘Plugged & Played’ so to speak & chose the 1.7htz setting for the pump on the temperature menu .

Obviously this is just a guide in hours left NOT Lts.
The bottom of the spatula represents the fuel that can’t be used below the pump outlet & a cpl of hours of emergency reserve due to bad measurements.

 

[mistericeman]

I was at one point going to swap the Eber for the component one I bought as the controller and Bluetooth app giving useful control ....
BUT when it came to it the 5~8kw is nigh on twice the size of the Eber 2kw already installed ...

HC-A11 Diesel Heater, 5-8KW LCD Grille Car Accessories 10L

Parking heater use of automatic control technology, with bluetooth app remote switch, can be used for cab heating of various 12V-24V vehicles.

hcalory.com

Also worth making sure any heater rated at above 2kw
Really needs to have the larger air inlet/outlet of @ 90mm

Rather than the usual @ 75mm of 2kw versions

Or you risk overheat faults if you are using any ducting longer around 300mm .

 

[trevskoda]

Use heating oil at 56p a ltr, bit more if you buy 20ltr drum in a garage, still cheaper and clean burning.

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Would heating oil burn too hot ?.
Would it also be ok to lubriate the Dose pump being Kerosene ? .

I use to put a mixture of 20 to 5 in a tank to feed both my Webasto air heater & my Everspatcher water Heater on my boat for many years without issue. But it was questionable grades of Red Diesel at the time.

 

[trevskoda]

Would heating oil burn too hot ?.
Would it also be ok to lubriate the Dose pump being Kerosene ? .

I use to put a mixture of 20 to 5 in a tank to feed both my Webasto air heater & my Everspatcher water Heater on my boat for many years without issue. But it was questionable grades of Red Diesel at the time.

There is a lub in it and remember a home boiler has rotor bearing pump and it dont wear out, best bit is less sooting build up, save your money use it.

 

[mistericeman]

Eberspacher/CDH pump are diaphragm/solenoid pump ...

So don't need any lubrication in the same way that old style mechanical diesel injector pumps did ....

Eberspacher/ CDH

Are happy to burn diesel/heating oil/kerosene/parrafin etc etc ....
Even Jet1 aircraft fuel if you can get it

Parrafin/kero Jet1 Burns cleaner (less additives in it than road diesel )

Anything like used veg oil/engine oil/hydraulic oil ...

Only really works with drip feed type stoves ....and even then can be finicky regarding the clinker/ash left behind after combustion .

 

[colinm]

So say 1lt at £1,40 Devided by the 9/10hrs = around 14p/15p per hour.

Not Cheap, But Convenient for Instant Dry Heat.

That's the equivalent of a 500w electric heater running 100%, so doesn't sound that expensive.

 

[Wooie1958]

The 12v Power consumed is fair as even though it’s often on (Lately) for 10hrs or more at a time over night in these-14 & -15°C temperatures, I’ve never noticed drained Habitation battery, & I tend to move most days anyway so charged up to float every evening.
So say 1lt at £1,40 Devided by the 9/10hrs = around 14p/15p per hour.

I may be missing the point here so apologies if i am but ......................................................................................................................................

Where the hell are you

 

[caledonia]

I may be missing the point here so apologies if i am but ......................................................................................................................................

Where the hell are you

The man’s in Bonny Scotland of course and that was in June.

 

[Nesting Zombie]

I may be missing the point here so apologies if i am but ......................................................................................................................................

Where the hell are you

Hi ya,
Yes I’ve been in Full time in Scotland on this occasion for close on 18months now. Taken in some of her islands & Snaked my way Around & through the Highlands, Lowlands, Glens & Craggy Coasts.
Those temperatures mentioned was the ‘Feels like’ Temperatures when I was at Glen Shee, Braemar, Inverurie.

 

[Nesting Zombie]

I’m now further North of there, But it’s Tropical temperatures

 

[alcam]

Hey guys,
So,,, I’ve been using my Cheap (£85) Chinese Deisel heater aboard on & off since I fitted it around 9mth ago.
Love it, Has run faultless throughout the Testing AND now the normal daily Habitation use.
I think I’ve also found the ‘Sweet Spot’ for the Living area I have to maintain a comfortable temperature so I can leave the Thurmostat alone. I just switch it on, Run it for 5-10 Hrs or whatever is needed then turn it off. All done .

Now my unit is the kinda Stand alone unit, with it’s own Fuel tank & Pump in like a metal cabinet, it’s Remote Controlled so I can start & Stop it from the Cab, OR my Bed & has 1 outlet exactly where I want it. Now a NEGATIVE thing is that it hasn’t got a Fuel Gauge . So a Wooden Spatula got re-Purposed as a Dipstick. I’m just carful when I fry my Bacon
I run it on the 1.7htz setting & it consistently uses around 1lt of Desel for every 9 or 10 hours of Running time from the 4.5lt tank.

The 12v Power consumed is fair as even though it’s often on (Lately) for 10hrs or more at a time over night in these-14 & -15°C temperatures, I’ve never noticed drained Habitation battery, & I tend to move most days anyway so charged up to float every evening.
So say 1lt at £1,40 Devided by the 9/10hrs = around 14p/15p per hour.

Not Cheap, But Convenient for Instant Dry Heat.
Anyone else worked out their Heating Costs ?. Or am I the only one with Time on my hands

So 10 hours a day , 14p an hour, £9.80 a week ?
Doesn't sound too dear to me

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Yeah, if you put the Convenience of both the ease of Obtaining & Topping up of just the ONE fuel source into the mix, it kinda works & makes sense to me !.
I just was wondering what others do & any math comparisons behind their choice.

 

[alcam]

Yeah, if you put the Convenience of both the ease of Obtaining & Topping up of just the ONE fuel source into the mix, it kinda works & makes sense to me !.
I just was wondering what others do & any math comparisons behind their choice.

I have lpg heater works pretty well. Been away 6 weeks only used heater last week or so . I know it doesn't use too much gas but have never worked it out . That's just me .
Having said all that was on EHU a few times , often free . Think a low power, portable electric heater would be handy . Anyone got a recommendation?

 

[Nesting Zombie]

I’ve got 2 400w electric heaters that i use on EHU occasionally.
One is at the Rear, One is at the front, I turn them both on initially to heat the space. I then turn the Front one off (as it’s under the bed when made up), I then turn the Electric Blanket on low. Then turn the Rear Heater down to whatever the temperature dictates.
Amazon is the start point for a search
I often run my Electric Blanket for 3 or 4hrs on the medium setting from the inverter on chilly nights.

This is the Rear 400w heater

This is the Front 400w Heater

 

[alcam]

I’ve got 2 400w electric heaters that i use on EHU occasionally.
One is at the Rear, One is at the front, I turn them both on initially to heat the space. I then turn the Front one off (as it’s under the bed when made up), I then turn the Electric Blanket on low. Then turn the Rear Heater down to whatever the temperature dictates.
Amazon is the start point for a search
I often run my Electric Blanket for 3 or 4hrs on the medium setting from the inverter on chilly nights.
View attachment 137801
This is the Rear 400w heater
View attachment 137802
This is the Front 400w Heater

View attachment 137804

Thanks for the info .
Electric blanket ? Don't you have a dog ?